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18
th
Annual Bull Sale
Wilde Angus Ranch
34
How to Use $Values
American Angus Association
®
3201 Frederick Avenue
Q
St. Joseph, MO 64506
816-383-5100
Q
07/08
$Values have meaning when used in comparing the relative merit or ranking of
two individuals. For example, Bull X has a $B value of +26.00, and Bull Y has
a $B value of +16.00. If these bulls were randomly mated to a comparable set
of females and the calves were exposed to the same environment, on the aver-
age you would expect Bull Xʼs progeny to have a +10.00 dollar per head advan-
tage in postweaning performance and carcass merit over Bull Yʼs progeny
(26.00 - 16.00 = +10.00 per head)
The $Values are not designed to be driven by a single trait, as
an index is multi-trait by design. These selection tools are the
result of the application of industry-relevant market values to
Angus genetics for preweaning, feedlot, and carcass merit.
Keep in mind that selection for an individual trait may be an
effective option for some producers. In this case, he might sell
fed cattle and have significant carcass data on past groups of
steers. This detailed data would allow him to identify the specif-
ic trait in need of improvement. In this case, $B might not be
used where the individual end-product EPDs could better assist
him in achieving the desired genetic change. The producer still
has the opportunity to use $B as a tool in maintaining the bal-
ance between feedlot and carcass traits.
The $W, $F, $G and $B values on individual animals and the
Sire Evaluation Report
may be viewed at
.
$Values should be used to complement the criteria that produc-
ers already use when selecting bulls. Different management sit-
uations may require varying emphasis on the genetic selection
“tools” offered. For instance, one producer might have historical-
ly sold calves at weaning, and rarely used the carcass EPDs in
bull selection decisions. First he needs to meet his birth weight
EPD/calving ease EPD requirements, depending on whether
heifers are to be bred. Then selections can be made on Weaned
Calf Value ($W) which characterizes revenue and costs associ-
ated with the preweaning phase. He would use $W to capture
preweaning dollar differences when comparing two sires of inter-
est.
In addition, he may want to begin making general progress in
improving end-product value to create more predictability in his
calves, or he may choose to retain ownership in the future. In
this case, the $B could be used in concert with the selection cri-
teria he has used in the past, such as $W, to make directional
change in postweaning and carcass merit.
American Angus Association
$Value Indexes
$Values
are multi-trait selection indexes expressed in dollars
per head, to assist commercial beef producers by adding sim-
plicity to genetic selection decisions. A $Value has meaning only
when used in comparison to the $Value of another animal. For
example, just as with EPDs, variation in $Values between ani-
mals indicates average expected differences in the relative
value of progeny if random mating is assumed and the calves
are exposed to the same environment.
Weaned Calf Value ($W):
an index expressed in dollars per
head, is the expected average difference in future progeny per-
formance for preweaning merit. $W includes both revenue and
cost adjustments associated with differences in birth weight,
weaning direct growth, maternal milk, and mature cow size.
Feedlot Value ($F):
an index expressed in dollars per head, is
the expected average difference in future progeny performance
for postweaning performance compared to progeny of other
sires.
Grid Value ($G):
an index expressed in dollars per head, is the
expected average difference in future progeny performance for
carcass grid merit compared to progeny of other sires.
Q
Quality Grade ($QG)
represents the quality grade
segment of the economic advantage found in $G. $QG
is intended for the specialized user wanting to place
more emphasis on improving quality grade. The carcass
marbling (Marb) EPD, which is influenced by carcass
marbling scores and ultrasound percent intramuscular
fat (% IMF) measurements, contribute to $QG.
Q
Yield Grade ($YG)
represents the yield grade
segment of the economic advantage found in $G. $YG
is intended for the specialized user wanting to place
more emphasis on red meat yield. It provides a
multi-trait approach to encompass ribeye, fat thickness
and weight into an economic value for red meat yield.
Beef Value ($B):
an index expressed in dollars per head, is the
expected average difference in future progeny performance for
postweaning and carcass value compared to progeny of other
sires. The $B value combines the contributions of $F and $G.
$Values
$W $F $G $B
+21.28 +13.60 +12.53 +25.32
